Eruptions at Mount Ile Lewotolok Increase, But Seismic Energy Drops: PVMBG

TEMPO.CO, Kupang - Mount Ile Lewotolok in East Nusa Tenggara experienced a significant increase in eruptions during the first half of February, exceeding the activity observed in January, according to the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG).

Stanis Ara Kian, an officer at PVMBG's Ile Lewotolok Volcano Observatory, reported on Sunday that the volcano recorded 821 eruptions between February 1 and 15, compared to 784 in the previous two weeks.

In February, Ile Lewotolok triggered 2,503 gust tremors, 24 harmonic tremors, and 589 non-harmonic tremors.

Kian said that based on instrumental observation, the volcano, currently at alert level II, experienced two shallow volcanic quakes, 24 deep volcanic quakes, five local tectonic quakes, and 13 distant tectonic quakes.

He also said that the number of tremors had increased, especially those occurring at the surface level.

The trend indicates that most of the volcanic activities in the mountain are currently occurring at a shallow depth.

However, Kian noted that Ile Lewotolok had started to see weakening seismic energy during the February 1–15 period.

"Based on the real-time seismic amplitude measurements, the seismic energy of the mountain has been declining in the last two weeks," he pointed out.

He said that the volcano had yet to experience any significant changes in pressure within its body, despite its seismic energy being in decline.

"The observation data shows insignificant deflation in the body of Mount Ile Lewotolok. Hence, no significant change in pressure in the mountain's body was detected," he concluded.

ANTARA

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